Training Camp 2017

[FrenchSkin]

Originally Posted by FlyerSkin

I never really bought
Scot's rationale for drafting him. You need a strong safety, draft one. Don't try and be cute with a hybrid type. If this string of injuries continue,
I wouldn't be surprised to see him out the door after his rookie contract is up.

Cravens is a strong safety. He made the transition to LB last year (which IMHO was a mistake). This year he's moving back to his initial position.

He's shown some great potential. I think he'll be great playing alongside Swearinger.

To me a concussion, an upper arm bruise and a meniscus injury aren't serious enough to call him injury prone already.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by FlyerSkin

Well, if Sua can't stay healthy and misses say 6-7 games a season for the duration of his contract, do you resign him? The switch to SS was a good move, but this guy has either really crappy luck, or just isn't built to take the punishment. I think the problem might be he is a Pac 12 guy. That conference isn't known for heavy hitting in general.

He hasn't even taken a snap in year two, I'm not going to even start speculating about his 2nd contract already.

[MTK]

Phil Taylor shaping up to be a great comeback story

After chat with magician, Phil Taylor's retirement talk vanished - Washington Redskins Blog- ESPN

[SkinsFanChris]

Originally Posted by mooby

Yup. Off the charts arrogance? This is news to me.

I'm judging by how he acts on Snapchat and Twitter. Not sure if you have any of those, but follow and you'll see.

[SkinsFanChris]

Originally Posted by Bangee7

what's the word on Terrell McClain? I haven't read much about him lately.

I'm surprised that Ziggy is listed ahead of him.

Exactly. Money could've been spent to bring Baker back IMO. Curious to see what he does the rest of the preseason.

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by MTK

Phil Taylor shaping up to be a great comeback story

After chat with magician, Phil Taylor's retirement talk vanished - Washington Redskins Blog- ESPN

What a great story if he makes the team...outstanding if he could start. Taylor issue was never production. He was a solid contributor when healthy...I called it last year, if he stayed healthy...this guy can be an impact player.

If Taylor and JG can stay healthy...wow, could raise the defense to the next level imo.

[FrenchSkin]

Originally Posted by Bangee7

what's the word on Terrell McClain? I haven't read much about him lately.

I'm surprised that Ziggy is listed ahead of him.

Cooley wasn't on high on him from the beginning... wasn't high on him during training camp. Just a guy.

McGee might also not be more than just a guy. Big guy but that's about it.

Hopefully Allen balling out, Taylor being a nice surprise, pressure from the edge by Anderson, Kerrigan, and Galette, solid play at ILB from Brown and Foster and an improved secondary make up for a not so massively improved DL group.

[mooby]

Originally Posted by SkinsFanChris

I'm judging by how he acts on Snapchat and Twitter. Not sure if you have any of those, but follow and you'll see.

To be fair I don't follow either, but I did just check out his Twitter and I'm not really seeing anything too egregious besides standard athlete talk. Maybe his Snapchat is more wild? Idk.

[MTK]

Most athletes are pretty arrogant, who cares.

[over the mountain]

Originally Posted by Bangee7

what's the word on Terrell McClain? I haven't read much about him lately.

I'm surprised that Ziggy is listed ahead of him.

"The Redskins started in nickel defense Thursday night, using Matt Ioannidis and Jonathan Allen in the middle of their front. When they came out in their 3-4, Ziggy Hood, Phil Taylor and Stacy McGee were the linemen, going from left to nose to right."

Significantly, one notable name missing from the main men was McClain. Princiotti detailed the surprising struggles experienced by the former Dallas Cowboys nose guard this offseason:

"This was somewhat unsurprising given what has been visible during training camp, but Terrell McClain seems to be falling down the depth chart. He just hasn’t made an impact. On the play where cornerback Joshua Holsey got a nice pass breakup on a deep ball, McClain was one-on-one with his man for several seconds (enough time for the receiver to get far down field) but couldn’t win the battle. It’s not that McClain has made any egregious mistakes, but given the financial commitment the Redskins made him, it’s easy to assume they’d like to see him playing a substantial role. If younger, less coveted players who weren’t free agency acquisitions keep making more plays, though, McClain starts to look like an expensive rotational piece."

McClain not making the grade is unexpected, at least in the mind of yours truly. After all, the 29-year-old was exceptional tussling with centers during his time in Dallas, helping the Cowboys rank No. 1 against the run last season.

Critics would likely point to McClain's success in Dallas coming in a one-gap 4-3 front, rather than the 3-4 the Redskins run, a base scheme still incorporating two-gap principles.

However, McClain does have experience anchoring a three-man front. He did so for the Houston Texans in 2012 and 2013, albeit in Wade Phillips' more attacking version of the system.

Perhaps McClain needs more license to attack one gap on Tomsula and Manusky's watch. Either way, he is listed as a backup defensive end on the unofficial depth chart released by the team on Monday, per CSN MidAtlantic's JP Finlay.

Washington Redskins Preseason Week 2 Matchup Preview | Bleacher Report
-------------------------

It seems like no DT want to be the unheralded, eat up blockers NT and they all have visions of cleanly shooting the gap and sacking unsuspecting QBs.

Very little on McClain out there.

Honestly, just not getting injured is bonus imo.

[FlyerSkin]

Originally Posted by MTK

He hasn't even taken a snap in year two, I'm not going to even start speculating about his 2nd contract already.

I am being hypothetical. This might be the year he works out the injury kinks, so the whole thing can be moot. But say he does miss multiple games in every season through his contract year. Do you resign him? Humor me. Preseason is rather boring. I am just throwing stuff out there.

[Bangee7]

Originally Posted by over the mountain

....

It’s not that McClain has made any egregious mistakes, but given the financial commitment the Redskins made him, it’s easy to assume they’d like to see him playing a substantial role. If younger, less coveted players who weren’t free agency acquisitions keep making more plays, though, McClain starts to look like an expensive rotational piece."


...

It seems like no DT want to be the unheralded, eat up blockers NT and they all have visions of cleanly shooting the gap and sacking unsuspecting QBs.

Very little on McClain out there.

Honestly, just not getting injured is bonus imo.

Thanks O_T_M...I didn't see this piece before. We should quit picking up DL from division rivals...never works out for us.

The bastards play like studs against us, then they take our money & fold up shop.

I really expected more from this guy.

[Bangee7]

Originally Posted by FrenchSkin

Cooley wasn't on high on him from the beginning... wasn't high on him during training camp. Just a guy.

McGee might also not be more than just a guy. Big guy but that's about it.

Hopefully Allen balling out, Taylor being a nice surprise, pressure from the edge by Anderson, Kerrigan, and Galette, solid play at ILB from Brown and Foster and an improved secondary make up for a not so massively improved DL group.

The good news is Allen & Anderson, but I hate to have to count on rookies. They need to be given time to gel.

I'm rooting for Phil Taylor, but that's a tough position & his injury history...I dunno...Hope he can hold up. It'd be nice for McClain to kick it up a notch and create more options.

[FrenchSkin]

Originally Posted by Bangee7

The good news is Allen & Anderson, but I hate to have to count on rookies. They need to be given time to gel.

I'm rooting for Phil Taylor, but that's a tough position & his injury history...I dunno...Hope he can hold up. It'd be nice for McClain to kick it up a notch and create more options.

On the bright side, one real playmaker in our DL, demanding a lot of double teams, and being able to absorb them, will make it easier for the other guys, who will then be able to perform better without needing to play lights out.

[skinsfaninok]

John Keim
ESPN Staff Writer

Overheard at camp: "Hell yeah Kirk! Hell yeah Kirk!" The usually silent Brandon Scherff exulted after quarterback Kirk Cousins connected with a wide-open Ryan Grant in the corner of the end zone to cap a red zone drill. Cousins crouched and pumped his fist after the play.